Engine Break-in and Tuning

[aspekt9]

I'm getting ready to break in my motor and I have a few questions first. Should I let the car warm up around 2,000 RPM THEN change the oil, or should I let the car warm up then drive it to break in the rings then come back and change the oil 20 miles later? I don't want to trash the bearings with any loose crap before I even drive it. Secondly, I use a MAF-T and run the GM MAF in blow-through, will I have enough time to tune before I take it out? I don't want to seat my rings just warming up in the drive way... How can I protect myself from running too rich while driving since I won't be able to pull over and keep adjusting the knob to lean if I'm too rich.

 

[motozachl]

I can't give you a good answer for the break in TBH. I've read many threads with opions to break it in hard or ease into it. I do know however that you want to use cheap oil on the first couple changes (50, 100, 200, 500 etc). THEN you will want to change over to synthetics. Also for the tune this shouldn't really be that troublesome unless you are doing WOT. Just set the base knob and then give some fuel according to the Full Throttle documentation. Just watch your wideband; you do have a wideband right?

Edit: Make sure that you check for boost leaks before you go out and drive. This hampered me once

 

[turboglenn]

For a proper break-in you need to constantly be going up and down the rev range with a load on the engine in both directions (accelerating under a medium load and engine braking) do this constantly, the worst thing you could do is to sit and let it idle or hold it at a steady RPM either in neutral or on the highway during the cruicial first 20 minutes or so when the rings are first seating.

The way rings are designed, pressure from the combustion process forces them out against' the cylinder wall to aid in compression and is needed to properly seat the rings under the loads that they will see on a daily basis.

As for tuning, you really don't have to get into too much boost, but you do need to make a few pounds, maybe 5-8psi or so and revving to about 5k or so, and like i said constantly rev up in gear, then let off and let it decell in gear as well to seat them properly.

Now, when breaking in new camshafts themselves (when going in an existing engine anyway) you start the car and bring them up to 2500 RPM for 15 minutesand that's about it (at least that's been from the old V8 days adn when i bought my DKS i was told that would work but wasn't completley needed

 

[aspekt9]

For a proper break-in you need to constantly be going up and down the rev range with a load on the engine in both directions (accelerating under a medium load and engine braking) do this constantly, the worst thing you could do is to sit and let it idle or hold it at a steady RPM either in neutral or on the highway during the cruicial first 20 minutes or so when the rings are first seating.

The way rings are designed, pressure from the combustion process forces them out against' the cylinder wall to aid in compression and is needed to properly seat the rings under the loads that they will see on a daily basis.

As for tuning, you really don't have to get into too much boost, but you do need to make a few pounds, maybe 5-8psi or so and revving to about 5k or so, and like i said constantly rev up in gear, then let off and let it decell in gear as well to seat them properly.

Now, when breaking in new camshafts themselves (when going in an existing engine anyway) you start the car and bring them up to 2500 RPM for 15 minutesand that's about it (at least that's been from the old V8 days adn when i bought my DKS i was told that would work but wasn't completley needed

I have new cams as well so will idling it at 2500rpm for the first 15 minutes to achieve a warm temp and break in on the cams be okay? Then go out and drive it?

 

[wranglerunner22]

What I was told and did was for the first start up:
Kept the car running for the first 15 mins or so, not REV but do give it some throttle.

After the first 15 mins are up, change the oil.

Then drive it around the block once or twice. Then 50, 100, 500 1000.

Keep in mind try not to keep an a constant RPM for a while. So no Freeway driving, stick to country roads.

Not sure about the cams tho;